A/N: Here I am with another update. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, it actually had more reviews than many of its predeccessors.

All right, before we begin, I just want to clear something up:

So basically, we've seen Robin with four personalities:

1. Normal Robin

2. Apprentice Robin (he was sooo confused, remember?)

3. Robin on drugs (he was mean)

4. Robin in withdrawal (he was scared)

So now we're back to one of the other personalities, keep in mind some of the subtle differences as you read this chapter.

You may want to reread chapters 22 and 25 to refresh your memory.

Disclaimer: I own only the creative material in this story, not the characters or comics.

Oblivion

By: Sarah Shima

Chapter 36: Home For Now

He awoke from a nightmare plagued by a man in a black and orange mask, laughing and taunting him. He blinked several times, as if to assure himself he really was awake, and Slade was not here.

Then a new question formed in his mind – where exactly was 'here'?

From his vantage point, which happened to be that of a rather ornate bed, he saw walls and ceilings covered in various posters that seemed vaguely familiar. As his eyes scanned the room, he caught sight of a poster that gave him pause.

Fancy letters read "Haly's Circus!" and from around it, pictures of performers smiled out at him. His attention caught on the image of three people – a man, woman, and child – with the words "The Flying Grayson's" written around them. The sounds of screaming filled his mind, and the horrible thump of bodies landing on something hard. Tears stung his eyes and he pushed them back, unsure as to why he was feeling this way.

He heard a slight movement, and turned his head to the side to see a man sitting in a winged-back chair against the wall. The man's black hair was matted down, almost like 'hat hair' he supposed, and his chin was leaning against his chest, his arms crossed as he shifted uncomfortably in his sleep.

Dick studied the man for a long while, watching him sleep. Even though he didn't recognize him, he felt safe in his presence, not at all like he felt with Slade.

Slade… The last thing he remembered was Slade attacking him at Titan's Tower. And then…

The drug; the drug Slade injected him with… how long ago was that? What had it done?

"This serum will make you completely loyal to me Robin. You will become the perfect apprentice." Robin stared at Slade in shock, watching for some sign that the man was joking. He wasn't. Robin fought at the restraints wildly again, his wrists beginning to bleed from the pressure of the strap. Slade put his hands on top of Robin's wrists and leaned over him. "You do not even know the best part yet," Slade said softly. "This serum was created entirely from the chemicals you stole in Metropolis."

Robin froze as the words washed over him.

"You are responsible for the creation of this serum, you facilitated the creation your own destruction," Slade said, enjoying Robin's expression of fear and regret.

Slade lowered the needle to the side of Robin's neck, and felt for the right place to stick him with the needle.

"Slade… no… don't… please…" Robin pleaded; his voice weak.

"Robin, do not upset yourself, it'll all be over soon. And I promise you, you will get to see all of your little friends very soon."

Oh God, did he do something to hurt them? He couldn't remember…

Dick lifted his hands in front of his face and examined the mostly-healed scars he gained from struggling against restraints. Then he pushed himself up in bed a little, examining his physical condition. His chest was covered in bandages, but the injury (whatever it might be) did not really hurt. Other than that he seemed fine. No signs of a difficult battle. But what if it hadn't been difficult? What if he had hurt them, or killed them?

And where was he?

He pushed himself up in bed again, and this time was met by a sharp pain in his chest. He cried out in pain, a little louder than he wanted to.

The man beside the bed's eyes instantly snapped open and he stared in mild surprise at Dick. "You're awake," he said plainly, standing and approaching the bed.

"Uh… I… yeah…" Dick said lamely.

"How do you feel?" the man asked, studying him with piercing blue eyes.

"Well that depends… who are you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at the man in front of him.

"You mean you don't… oh…" Bruce said. "I'm Bruce, and you're home."

"Home?" he asked, looking around again. His eyes rested on a photograph of the people from the promotional poster, and his heart jumped into his throat as he realized the boy in the center was him.

Home.

He liked the sound of that.

But then he looked back at Bruce again and felt a shadow of emotion rise up; he felt anger, disappointment, guilt, grief… He turned away from Bruce, knowing that the half-smile he wore a second ago had disappeared. Bruce noticed too.

"So… how long has it been since…" Dick began, but paused. "Since Titan's Tower, and what happened after Slade…"

"Three weeks, but you don't need to worry about that right now." 'And it's been five days, seven hours, three minutes, and twenty seconds since you passed out in the warehouse,' Bruce voiced the last part only in his mind. "So, you up for some breakfast?" he asked.

"Uh… I guess so," Dick responded heavily. He felt so tired, so drawn out. But he would do best to play along with this, he was too weary to really be suspicious, but he knew he should at least explore his location a bit. He pushed himself up further in the bed, but was stopped by Bruce holding his hand out.

"I'll just have Alfred bring it in, he's been worried about the burns on your chest, and wouldn't want you to aggravate them," Bruce explained.

Um… okay, who exactly was Alfred?

"I'll be back in a minute," Bruce said before slipping quietly out of the bedroom.

Dick stared around at 'his' room some more. It was huge, and had two doors, one of which Bruce used to leave the room, and the other he assumed led to a bathroom. A stereo system sat off to one side, with a TV beside it and a stack of movies and CDs were piled in a rack. It certainly was a welcome change to the sterile environments he had increasingly found himself in.

But still, he had to wonder where everyone else was. The Titans had seemed so adamant about getting him away from Slade and convincing him that he was on their side, so where were they now? Why would they leave him with this Bruce guy and then just take off?

Bruce allowed himself a sigh of relief as he stood outside of Dick's bedroom. After Atom administered the antidote and treated the burns, they had stayed at the Watchtower for another day, keeping vigilant watch over his vital signs. Dick seemed to be improving, and so Bruce insisted he be moved to the Manor. Everyone protested initially, but the JLA finally sided with Bruce against the Titans. The Teen Titans were thankfully called back to their city by a string of bank robberies, and the OT's were ordered home by their mentors.

Bruce and Alfred had kept constant watch over Dick, and Dr. Leslie made daily visits to check on his progress. Everything seemed to be coming along nicely. The burns ended up being more superficial than they originally appeared, making Bruce believe that Slade attacked Robin only for a distraction, not to actually kill him. Atom had explained to Bruce that the antidote would take a lot out of Dick and that accounted for his unconscious state over the past five days. All in all, things were improving.

And back in the Manor and in relative peace and quiet, Bruce found it much easier to make decisions regarding Dick's recovery, and to think clearly when it came to the boy. The constant distractions and interruptions by the various heroes on the Watchtower had left Bruce frazzled and his nerves short, but now, everything felt much different.

He and Alfred shared a few talks on Dick's future, and what would happen with his memory loss, and he had come out of it feeling more or less better about the whole situation. Even with amnesia and the constant threat of Slade, only one thing really mattered; his boy was home again.

Finally.

Though in time, Bruce would be reminded of why Dick had left in the first place.

After Alfred introduced himself again to Dick and handed him his breakfast, he watched the young man quite carefully. He noted that Dick frequently glanced over at the picture of his parents, as if trying to discern or make sense of some scrap of memory. Alfred did not comment on it, choosing instead to allow Dick to come to him on his own, both he and Bruce had decided to not try and force memory retrieval. Dick would remember when he was ready.

Alfred deemed Dick's wounds 'quite healed' and took the half-eaten breakfast dishes back down to the kitchen as Dick showered.

Alfred ran into Bruce in the hall outside of Dick's room. Bruce seemed lost in thought, and Alfred pointedly cleared his throat to achieve Bruce's attention. His questioning gaze forced Bruce to give voice to his thoughts.

"I didn't expect him to not remember before… Was it right to bring him here when he doesn't know us?" Bruce asked in a rare show of vulnerability.

"I believe so, sir. I think what he needs now is some peace and quiet. Though I would suggest you ask him if he would like his friends to visit. There is no reason to keep him isolated."

Bruce nodded in silent agreement. If he thought Robin's amnesia would be trying for them, then he knew it would only be more difficult for Dick himself.

Alfred heard shuffling feet behind him, and turned to see Dick nervously glancing around the kitchen. "Master Dick? What are you doing downstairs?" Alfred asked.

"I got lonely," Dick said with a shrug. "It took me a while to find anyone… this house must be huge."

"Indeed it is. However, was Master Bruce not in your room?" Alfred asked, specifically remembering asking Bruce to wait for him.

"No. He must have gone somewhere."

"Well, why don't you sit down, Master Dick," Alfred suggested. Dick complied, watching Alfred putting away newly cleaned breakfast dishes, from the kitchen table.

"How long have I lived here?" Dick asked tentatively, as if worried that Alfred would not welcome the distraction from his work. Alfred did not like to hear that worry and compliance in Dick's voice, but decided he would first work to let the boy know he could trust him before talking to him about it.

"Eleven years," he responded.

Dick nodded. "But…" he began, and then stopped, shaking his head.

"What is it?"

"Never mind," Dick responded quickly.

"If something is on your mind, then you are more than welcome to speak of it, you need not worry about what you say in this house," Alfred said gently.

"None of it matters. This is just temporary anyway," Dick said sullenly.

"What is temporary, sir?" Alfred asked.

"Staying here. It'll be nice for a few days, but it won't last. Just like in Titan's Tower… Slade won't give up, and he always gets what he wants…" Dick sighed in a defeated tone that Alfred was sure he never heard from the young man before.

"You must not say such things!" Alfred exclaimed in a tone that made Dick start. He watched the older man through guarded blue eyes. "Slade will only win if you give up! You are safe in this house, and your friends in the Titans and Justice League are searching for Slade. However, none of that matters if you resign yourself to that fate."

"I would love to believe that. But somehow I can't."

"May I ask what happened while you were with Slade? I have never seen you act this hopeless before, Master Dick, and I do not know what has caused it," Alfred prodded.

Dick ran a hand over the thin scar running between his eyes and shook his head. "You seem nice, Alfred, but I don't know you, and I don't really want to tell you."

The snow falling outside of Titan's Tower seemed to reflect the cheery Christmas lights from the city that lay beyond the frozen bay. Starfire stared out of the windows, her breath fogging the glass. Christmas – Robin's favorite holiday – had come and gone, and the Titans had barely noticed. Starfire had half-heartedly attempted to decorate the Main Room with garland, but the sight of it only made her sad. The gifts she bought for the Titans had been accepted without much enthusiasm, and now the present for Robin sat alone and discarded.

It marveled Starfire that she felt so miserable; she had thought about Christmas when she thought Robin was dead, wondered how she would make it through the day, and now, he was alive and she still was not happy.

She had Bruce Wayne and Slade to thank for that.

It had been so long, and she did not even know if he was okay, or if he was awake.

She never would have left him if it had not been for those bank robberies. They had apprehended the culprit and thrown him in jail with more than a few starbolt burns. And since then it had unfortunately been very quiet in Jump. All Starfire wanted was to blow off a little steam.

"Hey, you ready?" Donna asked, achieving Starfire's attention.

And so it seemed a chance to get out some energy had appeared.

Donna had arrived that morning after a fight with Wonder Woman over the whole Robin/Batman issue. Both Wally and Roy were currently on assignment elsewhere with their mentors, and she wanted to go somewhere as Wonder Girl, so she went to Titans Tower. She had hoped for some criminal to thrash, but was disappointed. However, Starfire seemed just as edgy as her, so she challenged the girl to a training practice of battle staves.

Both they and the other Titans were curious as to who would win. Two super-strong females with distinctively different battle tactics against each other could be nothing if not interesting.

Starfire and Wonder Girl walked down to the indoor pool where a mat lay floating in the center. Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven were standing on the sidelines to watch as the pair flew over to the mat.

They each picked up a wooden staff and faced each other. "I have not been given much opportunity to use my warrior skills as a Titan, but I feel it only fair to warn you that I was trained by the Warlords of Okaara," Starfire explained with a slight smirk as she felt her heart rate increasing in preparation for the impending fight.

"Well girl, I was trained by the Amazons of Themyscria, so I'm not too worried," Wonder Girl laughed.

"All right, girls rules: no powers, and the first one to fall off the mat loses. No powers. Five, four, three, two, one, begin!" Cyborg shouted.

Starfire wasted no time in lunging at WG with the staff. WG countered, keeping her staff vertical to prevent Starfire from finding an opening. The fight continued with both girls ruthlessly attacking the other. Starfire felt endorphins flood her body as she countered another jab from Donna. It had been so long since she fought someone with her level of strength in training. And it was fun.

"How much do you wish this was Slade or Batman you were fighting?" Donna asked, her face red with effort and exhilaration.

"I would take either, or both at the same time," Starfire smiled.

"The way I – hey, nice hit – see it, we give Bruce one more day, if we don't hear anything before then – woah, nearly got me there – we storm Wayne Manor," Donna suggested with a smile.

"And this time – you need to block better – we leave the JLA out of it!" Starfire shouted.

"I agree!" Donna said. Then she aimed a particularly strong hit at Starfire. "Take that Bruce!" she shouted.

Inspired by Donna's action, and subsequent bad footing, Starfire laughed and swept her staff at Donna. "No Batman, take that!" Starfire shouted, knocking Donna clear off the mat.

Wonder Girl fell backwards into the pool, resurfacing an instant later with a smile on her face. "That felt great!" she yelled up at Starfire.

"You left a wide opening," Starfire said back apologetically, sitting cross-legged on the mat.

"Sure, but you were great! I've only ever been beaten by my sister, Diana," Donna sighed, pulling herself back onto the mat. "What do you say we go double-team her?" she suggested with a grin.

"What did she say to anger you?" Star asked, following Donna as she jumped over to the edge of the pool and reached for a towel.

"She said to forget about tracking Slade or trying to help Robin; told me it was a League issue now," Donna sighed. "I told her that she and the rest of the League were crazy to think they could exclude me, and then I brought up you guys, and how you're more involved in this than either me of the rest of the League."

"What'd she say to that?" Cyborg asked, noticing how Donna's voice had taken on a serious tone.

"She said it didn't matter – because the Titans were not going to be around for long," Donna said, watching Cyborg closely for his reaction.

"What? What is that supposed to mean?" Cyborg asked critically.

Donna shook her head as she ran her fingers through her soaked black hair. "I think the League is trying to take control of the 'kids'," Donna began, rolling her eyes. "They've tried in the past, but Dick was always there to argue with them. You guys better be ready for a fight."

"But we don't even know any of the Justice League people!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "How are we supposed to argue with people like Superman!"

"Well, it's not as if I would just watch while you got tossed into the lion's den."

Bruce emerged into the kitchen, a deep scowl etched on his handsome features. "Master Bruce?" Alfred questioned. He waved away Alfred's question when he noticed Dick staring at him suspiciously.

"What are you doing down here?" Bruce asked, internally wincing when his words came out in a harsh rather than congenial tone.

"Umm…" Dick began, wondering at the sudden personality change he was witnessing in Bruce. He certainly did not seem the same as the man who was beside his bed when he woke up. He seemed much more… Slade like.

"Master Dick and I were having a chat," Alfred offered.

Bruce nodded, and reached forward to put his hand on Dick's shoulder. Dick instantly stiffened and leaned back away from his touch as if afraid that he were about to be hit. Bruce looked at him, hurt and unsure as to Dick's reaction. He turned to Alfred for a possible explanation.

"Perhaps if you left the cowl downstairs," Alfred said tonelessly. Bruce immediately adjusted his expression to that of Bruce Wayne rather than Batman. Bruce glanced quickly at Dick and then shared a meaningful look with Alfred. Dick, noticing that the adults needed to speak privately, quietly excused himself and slipped unobtrusively from the room. Alfred watched him go.

"What was Batman needed for today?" Alfred asked, implying but not voicing his disappointment that Bruce had flaked on staying upstairs with Dick.

"A call from the Justice League. They want information on Dick's condition and a chance to 'ask him some questions' about Slade and his possible whereabouts," Bruce said with obvious annoyance. "As if I'd let them and their interrogation anywhere near this Manor…" Bruce spat.

"No, that would be most unwise. Did you manage to convince them to abort their plan?" Alfred inquired.

"Ah yes, Clark's still afraid of me, even after all of these years, I got them to back down, if only temporarily. I plan on handling Slade myself anyway. The last thing I need is all of them getting in the way."

"Indeed," Alfred replied, more to indulge Bruce than anything else. All in all Alfred found everyone to be acting quite childish about this situation. "In the meantime, I would like to speak to you about some unusual personality traits I have noticed in Master Dick that have me worried."

"Of course, Alfred," Bruce said, turning momentarily to glance into the sitting room where Dick was curled up on the window seat, staring outside. "Dick's recovery is the most important thing right now."

A/N: All right everyone, how was that? I try to make the 'filler' chapters not inconsequential. Sure there was no real fighting, but I thought Star and Donna's battle staves was a nice break from the usual angst. I've been trying to work on my other stories, but this one is just coming easier, so there you have it. I wasn't too pleased with the ending, but there was no place else to do it, so there it is.

Anyway, I thought I'd be nice and update since I received so many reviews on the last chapter. I meant to finish this chapter on the weekend anyway, but it was my birthday, so I slacked off.

But now it's pretty late, and I have a busy day tomorrow, so I'll leave it here.

Please send me reviews, they really prod at me to update!

Thanks for reading,

Sarah Shima